Phyllis McGinley Quotes

The best way to win an argument is to begin by being right.

It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.

But the need for conflict to expose prejudice and unclear reasoning, which is deeply embedded in my philosophy of science, has its origin in these debates.

Resort is had to ridicule only when reason is against us.

Facts matter. Science matters. Reason matters. Mitt Romney has shown an inability to respect any of the three. President Barack Obama not only respects them, he relies on them. He is an overwhelming and unquestioned choice to continue as president.

Logic and fact keep interfering with the easy flow of conversation.

Some people have facts; these can be proven. Some people have theories; these can be disproven. But people with opinions are mindless and have their minds made up about it.

Some people spend their time reasoning and thinking out everything, and so anything that cannot be fully understood, they will not accept. We call these people 'intellectuals.'

Don't hold strong opinions about things you don't truly understand.

When people disagreed with him he urged them to be objective.

People who cannot recognize a palpable absurdity are very much in the way of civilization.

Faith is not uprooted by dialectic proof; it must already be deeply shaken by other causes to be unable to withstand the shock of argument.

Quotations are useful in periods of ignorance or obscurantist beliefs.

There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.

I like to regard myself as someone who's capable of critical thought, that is to say, who can evaluate claims.

I hope that I am generous and tolerant, but certainly on the intellectual side I think that there are discoverable truths, and some things that are closer approximations to the truth than others.

What is important is that one utilizes one's intellect and not to be 100 percent sure about one's convictions. One should always leave room for doubt.

Argument is to me the air I breathe. Given any proposition, I cannot help believing the other side and defending it.

Those who invalidate reason ought seriously to consider whether they argue against reason with or without reason.

I don't mind anybody coming after me as long as they're coming with facts.

My colleagues have learned to respect nothing but evidence, and to believe that their highest duty lies in submitting to it, however it may jar against their inclinations.

There's nothing wrong with changing your position to fit the facts; there's everything wrong with changing the facts to fit your position.

Only reason can convince us of those three fundamental truths without a recognition of which there can be no effective liberty: that what we believe is not necessarily good; and that all questions are open.

Every man has a right to his opinion, but no man has the right to be wrong in his facts.

"Relevance" may not be best.... Impetuous action, conscious oversimplification, refusal to doubt, and the rejection of reason are enemies of the university.